Funeral home manager slapped with fraud charge

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The last thing a woman expected when she hired a funeral home manager to prepare her father for burial was that she would be in court fighting to get back the $300,000 she spent for services that were not forthcoming.

When her father died on July 27, the complainant reportedly hired Keron Watson, who operated the K and J Supplies funeral parlour, along with his mother.

The Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court was told on Tuesday that she paid for her father’s burial space at the cemetery, a hearse, casket, T-shirt and other expenses. However, reports are that when the time came for the funeral service on September 2, her father’s body was not released to her.

Watson was subsequently charged with obtaining money by false pretence.

The court was told that when the woman called Watson, he reportedly informed her that she needed to pay an additional $15,000 to release the body, along with other expenses, which she paid.

She alleges that she still did not get her father’s remains. She told the court that in total, she gave Watson $385,000.

The complainant alleges that after calling Watson repeatedly and demanding that her money be returned, she was instead met with threats from him.

This prompted her to report the incident to the police, and after much hassle, she was reportedly able to bury her father using a different funeral home.

The Crown told Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague that during one of the calls with the complainant, Watson allegedly told her that she should stop calling his phone and he was going to “obeah” her.

It was also revealed that he has a similar matter, which is to return to court next week. The investigating officer in the matter also told the court that other matters involving other complainants will soon be before the court.

Weighing in on the case, the judge said issues like this “cause a certain amount of trauma because if it was a next person he would not be alive to stand in a dock.”

“I am concerned for the complainant,” Judge Cole-Montague said.

Due to an error at the police station, Watson was brought to court on a summons, as such, the judge decided to offer him bail so that she could impose conditions. He was offered bail in the sum of $350,000 with one to two sureties. Watson was ordered to report to the nearest police station on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He was also ordered to not contact the complainant and to surrender all travel documents. A stop order for him was also placed at all ports.

A fingerprint order was also made for him.

Once investigators are able to verify his address, Watson will be able to take up his bail.

He is to return to count on December 12, when he is expected to repay the complainant.